THE National Heart Institute (IJN) has received a boost in its healthcare services from a generous donation of surgical instruments by the Social Care Foundation worth RM208,233.
The foundation recently handed over thoracotomy, micro clamps, sternal closure devices, as well as specialised instruments used in paediatric heart surgeries and chest reopening procedures to IJN.
The provision of the instruments will ease the burden of treatment costs, enabling IJN to deliver care to even more children suffering from heart disease.
IJN CEO Datuk Dr Aizai Azan Abdul Rahim said the foundation’s contribution will help surgeons carry out their work effectively.
“We perform thousands of surgeries every year, so the provision of these additional instruments will go a long way in helping our surgeons effectively and safely manage this caseload.
“In turn, this means we can continue to maintain good outcomes for our patients, particularly our young paediatric patients. We want to ensure that children living with heart disease are able to lead a normal life and enjoy their childhood as much as they can,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Social Care Foundation chairman Tan Sri Robert Phang (picture) said he had always been driven to help the sick and needy, having donated towards life-saving treatment for many heart patients in the past two decades.
He added that he has a soft spot for paediatric patients in particular, having come across many child patients waiting for treatment with only their caregivers for company.
“Unfortunately, most of them are unwell and will be restless while waiting for their treatment, more so those suffering from paediatric and congenital heart diseases.
“In this specific area, it would be ideal for us to have proper medical equipment and medicine for the children to get well soon,” he said.
He also said it is undeniable that the wellbeing of the future generation is a priority and he also appealed to all fellow Malaysians to assist those who are in need. IJN is among the best medical centres for cardiovascular and thoracic care in Malaysia and the region, keeping abreast with the latest medical advances.
The heart specialist institution has paved the way by creating many “firsts” for cardiovascular and thoracic care in the country, namely the first in South-East Asia to introduce AXXESS Stent to treat bifurcation lesions and the first in Asia to introduce Renal Denervation — a radio frequency ablation procedure to treat patients with resistant hypertension.
